GLOBAL WEALTH MIGRATION DRIVEN BY RISING PRIVATE HEALTHCARE COSTS - HENLEY & PARTNERS

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 9 (Bernama) -- A sharp acceleration in global wealth migration in 2025 is colliding with rapidly diverging private healthcare costs worldwide, making the availability and price of reliable private care a key factor for high-net-worth families deciding where to live, invest, or secure residence and citizenship.

New data released by Henley & Partners confirms record demand for cross-border planning and highlights healthcare cost exposure as a critical “hidden variable” shaping long-term destination choices for globally mobile families.

The firm in a statement said it has received applications from 92 nationalities this year and supported demand across more than 50 residence and citizenship programmes and has assisted applicants from 136 nationalities over the past five years.

Comparing the first three quarters of 2024 with the same period in 2025, Henley & Partners reported a 43 per cent increase in applications, underscoring intensifying cross-border mobility among affluent households.

To support destination planning, the firm is referencing the newly published SIP Health Cost Index (HCI) 2025—a benchmark of the true cost of private healthcare across 50 key countries, based on International Private Medical Insurance (IPMI) premiums.

While Henley & Partners focuses on residence and citizenship advisory, the Index provides a complementary view into how private healthcare costs can materially affect a destination’s long-term affordability and suitability, especially for families with children, ageing parents, or elective cross-border medical needs.

The Index identifies familiar high-cost markets, with the United States ranking as the world’s most expensive private healthcare market, with an average annual IPMI-based cost of US$17,969 per person, followed by Hong Kong and Singapore. (US$1 = RM4.11)

However, unexpected shifts are emerging beyond traditional hubs. Several markets in emerging Asia—including China, Thailand, and Taiwan—have now entered the global top 12 for private-care costs, driven by strong demand for premium hospitals and rising inpatient expenses.

Europe shows one of the widest spreads, with the United Kingdom (UK), Greece, and Spain among its most expensive markets, partly due to Insurance Premium Tax in the UK and Greece. In the Middle East, the United Arab Emirates ranks 10th globally, reflecting expanding high-end healthcare infrastructure and medical-tourism ambitions.

As global wealth migration continues to rise, Henley & Partners said private healthcare cost exposure is becoming a first-order consideration in residence and citizenship planning. The SIP Health Cost Index provides a practical comparison tool to help families anticipate long-term healthcare budgets and avoid hidden high-cost risks when choosing a home, second residence, or multi-base lifestyle.

-- BERNAMA